Method of making an insulated container



Sept. 16, PIKER METHOD OF MAKING AN INSULATED CONTAINER Original Filed Sept. 10, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HERBERT M. PIKER fittoryey Sept. 16, H PIKER METHOD OF MAKING AN INSULATED CONTAINER Original Filed Sept. 10, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet L F INVENTOR.

47b Hmssm' M. PIKER Sept 16, 1959 H. M. PIKER I METHOD OF MAKING AN INSULATED CONTAINER Original Filed Sept. 10, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR.

h'e'asnr M. PIKER z/zflw labor/ e] II II .II II II II II II II II II II II United States Patent US. Cl. 156-69 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The method of providing an insulated container consisting in forming the inner and outer containers complete in themselves, that is, forming each to include a bottom, a top, and a body portion between their respective tops and bottoms and each of the tops having upstanding therefrom a hollow sleeve. Forming in the outer container body portion an inwardly extending groove and through which groove the said outer member body portion is severed or cut to thereby provide said outer member with two portions one of which includes the body member and each portion having an inwardly extending flange adapted to be disposed in face contact with one another after the assemblage of the inner member and the outer member and including their tops and upstanding sleeves. Said parts being secured in assembled position by securing the face contacting inwardly extending flanges to one another and after the insertion of insulation between the inner and outer members.

This invention relates to improvements in insulated containers generally referred to as jugs and are usable for transporting, generally, liquids in either hot or cold condition and for maintaining the liquids in hot or cold condition for a reasonable period of time.

This is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 395,392 filed Sept. 10, 1964, by Herbert M. Piker for Insulated Containers now Patent No. 3,313,438 which issued April ll, 1967.

Jugs, containers, or the like, for the purpose set forth above, are becoming quite popular and with various manufacturers producing the same in, exterior appearance, one color or in two or more colors for attractiveness and sales appeal. Manufacturers are continuously trying to reduce their cost of manufacture while at the same time increasing the efliciency of the jugs in their capacity for maintaining the condition of liquids therein.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a jug of the character and for the purpose above set forth which can be produced in an expeditious manner.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a jug and/or a method of producing the same whereby its cost is less than those heretofore produced while at the same time producing the jug to have an exterior appearance of an uniform color from top to bottom or a jug having the top or upper portion thereof to a color diiferent from that of the lower or bottom portion of the jug.

A further and specific object of the present invention is the provision of a unique and positive, yet simple, method and means of securing the said upper and lower portions of the jug, that is, the outer surface or casing, permanently to one another.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference to the following specification considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an insulated container or jug embodying the principles of manufacture and the construction as contemplated by this application.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a second side of the jug, as seen, particularly, from the left hand side of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the jug.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the jug as seen from line 44 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the upper portion of a jug as seen from line 55 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of one part of the jug, namely, the outer casing, and illustrating the construction thereof.

FIG. 7 is a vertical, sectional view of the assembly of the inner jug or container, per se, mounted in operative position with respect to the outer container or covering of the jug.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified insulated container embodying the principles of construction of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the container of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a transverse, sectional view through the container of FIG. 8 as seen from line 1010 on said FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the upper end of the container of FIG. 8 as seen from line 1111 on said FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section of the outer container or cover of the insulated container of FIG. 8, being a view similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the structure and method of producing the same.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the inner and outer members of the container of FIG. 8 in their assembled positions.

Throughout the several views of the drawings similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

The insulated container in FIGS. 1 to 7, inclusive, as seen exteriorly thereof comprises an upper part or portion 16 and a lower part or portion 17 connected to one another, as will presently be made clear, at the line 18, defining, the lower end of the upper part 16 and upper end of the lower part 17. As shown, particularly in FIG. 3, it is contemplated to produce the insulated container to have its sides at substantially right angles to one another and therefore to have the external sides to stand in planes, but it is to be understood, as will later be made clear, the said container may be made round in plan. The several sides side faces of the lower part 17 may be variously ornamented or finished such as with flutes and ridges 19 extending for substantially the full height of the container side 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1, or the said side faces may be provided with flutes and ridges for only a portion of the height of the container such as illustrated at 21 in the container side 22 of FIG. 2.

Secured to, as will presently be more clearly defined, the upper end 23 of the inner container is a closure cap 24 which, see FIG. 5, has a discharge opening 25 therethrough surrounded by a pouring or discharge spout 26. The said opening 25 and its spout 26 may be closed by a spout cap 27 which is removable for uncovering the opening 25 and its discharge spout 26.

Any suitable or desirable discharge spout closure cap 27 may be employed and which may be entirely removable from the container but is preferably connected with the closure cap 24 for movement relative thereto but not necessarily disassociatable therefrom. As seen in FIGS. 1, 3

and 5 the said discharge spout cap 27 has rearwardly extending therefrom a tongue 28 provided at its rear end with ears 29 and 30 spanned by a pivot pin 31. The pivot pin 31 is adapted to be frictionally received between ears 32 and 33 of an upstanding lug 34 from the closure cap top.

In practice the closure cap 27 is lifted through a finger piece 35 at the forward end thereof for actuating the same about its pivot 34 in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 5'.

In order to transport the insulated jug or container it is provided at its upper end with a bale carrying handle 36 the arms 37 and 38 of which are provided at their lower ends with trunnions 39 and 40 entering suitable sockets inwardly of an upstanding neck 41 on the outer container upper portion 16.

The outer container or jacket 17 is formed of linear polyethylene and the method of producing the same as illustrated in FIG. 6 consists of initially producing the upper portion 16 and lower portion 17 as one piece by the wellknown blow method molding of plastic. As seen in said FIG. 6 the said outer member top portion 16 includes the above referred to neck portion 41 which has an inwardly projecting flange 42 having an aperture 43 therein, centrally thereof, for permitting the inner container neck 23 to project therethrough and for operatively connecting the inner and outer container members to one another, as will presently be made clear. The outer container top portion 16 has extending from the lower end of its neck 41 a slightly outwardly and downwardly inclined portion 44, forming, in efliect, the top surface of the container as a whole. Abruptly downwardly and outwardly from the top surface 14 is the top portion outer wall 45 whose lower end forms the line of demarcation between the top and bottom portions 16 and 17, and which line is indicated by the line 18 on FIG. 1, above.

The bottom portion 17 of the outer container includes the assembled container main bottom 46 from the periphery of which upstands the sides such as 20 and 22, above referred to. The upper ends of the said sides 20 and 22 terminate at and with the top portion side walls 45 to form the line 18, above, of demarcation between the said outer container top and bottom portions 16 and 17.

As seen in FIG. 6 the said top portion side walls 45 and the bottom portion side walls 20 and 22, respectively, each terminate in a rounded corner or end, respectively, 47 and 48 with each of said rounded corners or ends followed by a short wall or flange portion, respectively, 49 and 50. The inner ends of said short walls or flanges 49 and 50 are joined at their inner ends by a filet 51 substantially semi-circular in vertical cross-section, and of a small a radius as practical.

From the foregoing it will now be noted that there has been provided a single piece member including the top and bottom portions 16 and 17 of the container outer member or enclosing container.

As illustrated in FIG. 7 the inner container neck 23 is provided exteriorly thereof with screw threads 52 for substantially the height thereof and with said inner container neck having at the base thereof a groove 53 formed between a radial flange 54 on the neck 23 and a shoulder 55 at the upper end of a sleevelike portion 56 of said inner container. An outwardly extending portion 57 of the inner container forms the top thereof with the container vertical walls 58 extending therefrom and terminating at the periphery of the inner container bottom 59.

In practice the outer container after formation as in FIG. 6 is severed or cut on the line 60 which is substantially midway of the space between the rounded corners or ends 47 and 48 of the outer container upper and lower portion 16 and 17 and wherefore said upper portion 16 results with an inwardly projecting flange 49 and the lower portion has an inwardly projecting flange 50. In other words, in the severing or cutting apart of the upper and lower portions the filet 51 between these portions is substantially eliminated.

The diameter of the top opening 43 in the outer member upper portion is substantially equal to the 'base diameter of the inner member neck groove 53. With the said outer member top portion now separated from the bottom portion the inner container 58 has its neck 23 pushed upwardly through the outer container top portion opening 43 until the flange 42, radially of the opening 43, has its free edge seated in the inner container groove 53 and located between the said inner container neck radial flange 54 and opposed collar or shoulder 55. This results in a construction wherein the said outer container top portion has suspending and depending therefrom the said inner container, in other words, the outer container top and inner container are assembled as illustrated in FIG. 7 if the outer container lower portion is considered as not being present.

It will be understood that the said outer container top portion may be placed in a supporting rig or jug during the assembling of the said parts.

In practice, and after assembly of the said inner containerneck and outer container top portion with one another as just described, there is disposed within the space 61, between the outer container and inner container, polyurethane foam insulation while in its liquid form. This polyurethane foam insulation is well-known and is, after placed in position, activated to effect the foaming action thereof which eventually becomes a rigid foam-like material 61a having high insulating properties, all as is well-known.

Immediately after the liquid polyurethane foam is disposed in the space 61 the outer container lower portion 17 is placed in position as illustrated in FIG. 7. This placement of said outer member lower portion consists in engaging its peripheral flange 50 with the top portion peripheral flange 49 and holding same by any suitable or desirable means against displacement from the position thereof as clearly illustrated in FIG. 7.

The action of the liquid polyurethane foam not only fills the space 61 but also fills the space 62 between the outer member bottom portion walls 20 and 22 and the inner member walls 58 and also fills the space 63 between the outer member lower portion bottom 46 and inner member bottom 59. It is understood that the parts, inner container, outer or enclosing member top and bottom portions 16 and 17 with their flanges 49 and 50 are retained in the positions of FIG. 7 during the action of the said polyurethane foam and until the said foam becomes a solid mass. This action of the polyurethane foam into a solid mass 61a clamps and retains the peripheral flanges 49 and 50 in face contact as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 and substantially defies separation of these parts except by or through a tool which, obviously, could cut the parts from One another and cut the said solid insulation foam 61a outwardly of the inner container walls.

The foregoing description of the assembly and securing the parts to one another contemplates the reverse positioning thereof from that illustrated in FIG. 7. It is to be understood that after the outer or enclosing member or container top portion 16 and inner container neck 23 are connected to one another the outer or enclosing member or container bottom portion 17 may have the liquid polyurethane foam placed on the bottom 46 thereof and activated to effect its foaming, whereupon, the assembled top portion and inner container may be arranged on the bottom portion, all as seen in FIG. 7, and then await the finalaction of the foam insulation material.

The attachment to the inner container of the closure cap 24 is believed obvious since it is provided with internal screw thread grooves for receiving the threads 52, and the nozzle closure cap 27 can either then or may have been previously assembled with the said screw cap 24, since all that is necessary to assemble these parts is the insertion of the nozzle closure cap trunnion 31 between the ears 32 and 33.

From the foregoing it can readily be noted that two, for example, outer containers can be formed as in FIG. 6 each of a different color and after the severance of the parts on line 60 the top portion 16 of one of the containers, one color, may be assembled with the bottom portion 17 of the second container and the parts connected with one another as above described whereupon an outer container or enclosing member having a top portion and a bottom portion of different colors produced. Obviously the remaining top and bottom portions of the second container may be then assembled with one another to produce a container with its top and bottom portions of colors reversed from the first assembled container outer member or enclosure.

The modified insulated container illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 13 contemplates the production or provision of an insulated container, round, instead of having angularly related sides, formed of three, instead of two, parts, namely, a central or body portion 64 with a top portion 65 and a bottom portion 66. This outer container, as seen in FIG. 12, has its central or body portion 64 terminating in rounded upper and lower ends respectively indicated at 67 and 68. The top portion 65 has its peripheral wall 69 terminating in a rounded shoulder or end 70 while the bottom portion 66 has its peripheral Wall 71 terminating in a rounded shoulder or end 72. The upper end of the body portion 64 beyond its rounded end or corner 67 and the top portion peripheral wall beyond its rounded end 70 have respectively extending therefrom converging wall or flange portions 73 and 74 connected with one another through small radius filet 75. Similarly, the body portion 64 has extending from its lower rounded end 68 and the lower portion 66 has extending from its upper rounded corner 72, respectively, converging flange portions 76 and 77 again connected with one another with a small radius filet 78. These parts, the upper portion 65 and the lower portion 66, are separate from the central or body portion 64 respectively on cut lines 79 and 80 to separate the same from one another.

Again, the separation of the top and bottom portions 65 and 66 on the lines 79 and 80 substantially eliminates the small filets 75 and 78.

The inner container, indicated in its entirety by the numeral 81, is formed substantially identically with the inner container above described and includes at the base of its neck the groove 53 and the modified outer member is likewise provided in its top portion with an inwardly extending radial flange 42 defining a central aperture 43 and which upon assembly finds the said inner edge of the flange 42 in the groove 53 as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 11.

The outer top, bottom and central body portions of the modified construction are assembled in the said manner as above set forth, namely, by face contact of the flanges 73 and 74 and face contact of the flanges 76 and 77, the latter being eifected after the first flanges are assembled and the liquid polyurethane foam placed in the space between the inner and outer containers. Upon completion of the action of the polyurethane foam the said contacting flanges are keyed or locked to one another to defy separation except by force and use of instruments.

It is to be understood that the central or body portion 64 in its molding or production may be provided with any suitable or desirable ornamentation such as the dirdling groove 82 as illustrated in FIGS. 8, l2 and 13.

It will be readily understood that the connection of the flanges 71 and 12 and the flanges 74 and 75 provide the lines 83 and 84 of demarcation in the assembled container as illustrated in FIG. 8.

It should be noted that in FIG. 8 a covering cup 85 is illustrated in elevation while in FIG. 11 the said cup is illustrated in cross-section as enclosing the discharge nozzle closing cap, a structure known in the art and forming per se, no part of the present invention.

It should also be noted that by forming modified outer or enclosing members as illustrated in FIG. 12 each of a different color and separating the same into their upper, lower and intermediate or body portions the said parts of different colored containers may be assembled with one another for producing an insulated container in an attractive dress of one color, two colors or three colors.

From the foregoing it is believed that the objects initially set forth have been accomplished.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of producing an insulated container comprising forming an outer container to include a top member with a hollow upstanding sleeve, a bottom member and connecting side wall member, forming in said outer container in its wall member between its top and bottom members a depression including a rounded filet and integral flange forming portions from each end of the filet to the wall member, separating the outer container at the line of the depression filet into an upper portion and a lower portion with one of such portions including the cen tral body portion and with each upper and lower portion having an inwardly extending flange, positioning said outer container upper and lower portions with respect to one another through face contact of the depression flanges, subsequently securing said inwardly extending flanges in face contact with one another and thereby securing the said outer container upper and lower portions to one another, forming an inner container with an upstanding sleeve, and disposing before the securement of said face contacting flanges to one another said inner container within the outer container with its sleeve within and above the outer container upstanding sleeve.

2. The method of producing an insulated container as set forth in claim 1 characterized by, the disposing of the inner container within the outer container including the securing of the inner container and separated outer container upper portion through integrally formed cooperating means on said outer container upper portion sleeve and inner container upstanding sleeve, prior to the positioning of said outer container upper and lower portions with respect to one another and the securing of the flanges in face contact with one another.

3. The method of producing an insulated container as set forth in claim 1 characterized by, the disposing of the inner container within the outer container including the securing of the inner container and separated outer container upper portion through integrally formed cooperating means in said outer container upper portion sleeve and inner container upstanding sleeve, and further including the positioning of said inner container and said outer container in spaced relation to one another and with a space between them, and placing insulation in said space between said inner and outer containers, all prior to the positioning of said outer container upper and lower portions with respect to one another and securing the flanges in face contact with one another.

4. The method of producing an insulated container as set forth in claim 1 characterized by, forming a second depression including a rounded filet and integral flange forming portions in the outer container side wall member spaced from said first depression, separating said outer container on said second depression filet for thereby providing an outer container side wall member separate from the upper portion and the lower portion, said outer container side wall member at each end thereof having an inwardly projecting flange while each separated upper and lower portion likewise has formed at its end adjacent the outer container side wall member an inwardly projecting flange, securing the disposed inner container within the other container separated outer container upper portion to one another through integrally formed cooperating means on said outer container upper portion and inner container neck, positioning said outer container side wall member, upper and lower portions with respect to one another through face contact of the depressions flanges, and securing said depressions flanges in face contact with one another and enclosing the inner container.

5. The method of producing an insulated container as set forth in claim 1 characterized by, forming a second depression including a rounded filet and integral flange forming portions in the outer container side wall member spaced from said first depression, separating said outer container on said second depression filet for thereby providing outer container side wall member separate from the upper portion and the lower portion, said outer c011- tainer side wall member at each end thereof having an inwardly projecting flange while each separated upper and lower portion likewise has formed at its end adjacent the outer container side wall member an inwardly projecting flange, securing the disposed inner container within the outer container separated outer container upper portion to one another through integrally formed cooperating means on said outer container upper portion and inner container neck, positioning said outer container side wall member, upper and lower portions with respect to one References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,788,149 4/1957 Brown 21513 2,838,194 6/1958 Piker 21513 3,094,448 6/1963 Cornelius 15678 3,120,570 2/1964 Kennedy et al. 264-45 3,292,252 12/1966 Reading 264l52 X EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner R. A. KILLWORTH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

